small stuff
1
8.6
- noun
- Specialized
:
cuerdas pequeñas
- When fixing the boat, we relied on the small stuff for lashing down the equipment.
Examples
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The crew used the small stuff to secure the sails during the storm.
-
He learned to appreciate the quality of the small stuff necessary for minor repairs on the ship.
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He learned to splice small stuff as part of his training on board.
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Some of the small stuff had worn out and needed replacing after the storm.
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The sailors used small stuff to secure the tarpaulin over the cargo.
-
The crew used small stuff to secure the sails.
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He always carries some small stuff on his boat.
Synonyms
1
9.3
Ropes and lines used on a ship for sails and masts
1
9.9
A short rope that holds a small pole to keep a sail in place
A small rope used to pull a sail up or in
How Thick
Surface Forms
Morphology
The nautical sense 'a light rope used on a ship' is not inferable from 'small' (limited in size) + 'stuff' (material/substance) as understood by an average B1 learner; 'stuff' does not commonly denote 'rope' in general English. This is specialised maritime jargon whose specific meaning is unpredictable without prior exposure, so it is opaque to learners.
Etymology
Small stuff comes from sailors who called the thin ropes on a ship 'stuff'. The small ropes were used for light jobs like tying tarpaulins or lashings, so the phrase now means 'any light rope used for minor tasks'.